Bangkok - Yet Another Trip to The Big Mango

Mam attended a ceremony to mark completion of the Thai Lawyers Council course. She's a lawyer now. While she was busy I took a walk through Bangkok's Chinatown.

But first, a few photos of our hotel and environs:

This is the lobby of the Dream Hotel. Out first time here. It's a mid-priced modern place that is conveniently located near both Skytrain and subway.

Gin and Tonics at the rooftop bar of the nearby Four Points hotel.

Yep. It's me.

The Four Points has a nice rooftop pool,

with a great view of Bangkok's Sukhumvit area.

We had dinner at the old Yong Lee restaurant. Yep, this old place is on a busy corner on one of Bangkok's most fashionable streets.

The walk through Chinatown begins:

This canal is on the edge of Chinatown near Bangkok's Hualampong railway station.

Chinese shrine.

Sacred banyan tree.

Entrance to a Chinese temple.

This window has been bricked up so I guess they don't care that the shutters are collapsing.

Two woks hanging on a plastered brick wall. I wonder where that sealed passageway used to lead.

The sign says this is a private lane.

This section of Chinatown contains many shops that do machine work for vehicles.

Curious....

This shophouse overflows with crankshafts and other engine parts.

Note the handmade barrels.

Another shop overflowing with leaf springs.

Lovely old building near the Chao Phraya River.

Yes, this is Bangkok in 2012.

Filtered coffee the old fashioned way.

The coffee grounds are infused with caramel to make the coffee thick, dark and sweet. But, they still add sugar, condensed milk and whole milk.

Old home on the Chao Phraya River

A sacred Bo tree.

This line of shophouses is probably about 100 years old. Note the new flood barrier.

This locked gate seemed to lead into a residential compound, but looked as if it hadn't been opened in a very long time.

A man contemplates lunch at a curry shop in a narrow lane.

Chinese pharmacy.

Pink Moon Cakes. The festival is coming soon.

This home is still in use and has a shop out front. The bathroom is through the door in the back.

The same house. Note the photos pasted on the wall in the inset area.

Religious festival items for sale. Hats, too.

Front door of a shophouse.

This could be China a hundred years ago; until you notice the laptop.

The sign says that this is a vegetarian food shop. The Chinese vegetarian festival is coming up.

The sign warns against parking vehicles in front of the door.

Coffin maker

I was tempted to have lunch at this ancient place.

I didn't.

Another lane of shops selling candles, paper lanterns and garlands, etc.

I did have some noodles here.

Chinese style noodles with pork and vegetables.

I like the mix of Chinese and Thai.

Back to the modern world:

Just a few subway stops away from old Chinatown is the very modern Terminal 21 Shopping Center. I had cappuccino and Hokkaido cheesecake at Farm Design.

Cabbages and Condoms restaurant; one of our favorites. It is run by The Population and Community Development Association (PDA), an NGO which promotes family planning.

Condom Elvis.

The restaurant is in a building that surrounds this fanciful garden. It's quite lovely at night.

Pretty good food, as well. We had mushroom in coconut milk soup and spicy crisp-fried catfish salad.

Here's Mam after her ceremony with her Thai Lawyers Council certificate. She worked very hard for this and I am very proud of her achievement.